Albert Lionel Beach
Albert Lionel Beach was born 8 Aug 1867, Christchurch, NZ. He followed his family to Melbourne and then Tasmania. Albert was married to Sarah Watkins in Victoria on 13th June 1891 and records show births of Mabel, Harry, Lucy and Albert in Strahan and Zeehan. BEACH MABEL HAVILAND 1892BEACH HARRY EDWARD WATKINS 1895BEACH ALBERT CHARLES 1896BEACH LUCY ELIZABETH 1898There may have been 3 other children according to shipping line travel reports and birth records from Victoria:BEACH ERNEST MILSON 1904BEACH AMY LOUISA 1902 BEACH EDITH AMELIA 1900
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Shortly after their marriage, Albert was declared insolvent and soon after moved to Zeehan, Tasmania where their first child Mabel was born in 1892. They may well have arrived in Zeehan before Milson and the remainder of the family as the earliest reports of Milson's business activities in the town are recorded around 1893.
Fri 2 Jun 1899 - Zeehan and Dundas Herald (Tas. : 1890 - 1922)Strahan Town Board.Present-Messrs Val Johnson (chairman), Povey, Terry, Lipsombe, Piesee and Slater.The minutes of the previous ordinary meeting and also of a special meeting were read and confirmed.Correspondence from Mr A. L. Beach, announcing big intention to erect a building and askingthe Board to extend a street (presumably the FO Henry home Orminston - see below).
5th July 1899The building trade is still very active at Strahan, and a most imposing edifice is now in coarse of construction for Mr F.O. Henry. (Orminston) It will when completed be the residence of that gentleman and his family, and no more comfortable home could be desired. The building, which will be of brick, will contain 13 rooms, in addition to all outhouses necessary to make up an ideal home, and it will command a perfect view of the harbour, while the side entrance will be from the street passing the State school. The contractor for this work is Mr W. McDonald, who has appointed Mr A. L. Beach foreman of works. The outside measurement of the building will be 88ft by 72ft, and Mr McDonald expects to complete his contract by the end of December 1900.
5th July 1899The building trade is still very active at Strahan, and a most imposing edifice is now in coarse of construction for Mr F.O. Henry. (Orminston) It will when completed be the residence of that gentleman and his family, and no more comfortable home could be desired. The building, which will be of brick, will contain 13 rooms, in addition to all outhouses necessary to make up an ideal home, and it will command a perfect view of the harbour, while the side entrance will be from the street passing the State school. The contractor for this work is Mr W. McDonald, who has appointed Mr A. L. Beach foreman of works. The outside measurement of the building will be 88ft by 72ft, and Mr McDonald expects to complete his contract by the end of December 1900.
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ORMINSTON HOUSE, STRAHAN - THE HOME OF THE HENRY FAMILY
Following the completion of Orminston House contract in Strahan, the family appears to have moved to Beaconsfield with Albert taking up a position as the Construction Manager at the Beaconsfield gold mine.
Auction Sales.LYNCH STREET, STRAHAN.WEDNESDAY, 12th Dec., 1900, 12 noon.0.BRUMBY & CO., under instructions from A. L. Beach, Esq , will sell on the premise, as above, LOT 7, SECTION M2, together with new and very commodious Six Roomed House thereon. Woodshed, Wash house, Scullery, and every convenience. Also, His SUPERIOR FURNITURE, comprising, Double Bedstead, Wire Mattresses, Washstand, Toiletware, Horse hair Suite, Cot, Stretchers, Sofa. Dining and Kitchen Tables, Chest Drawers, Couch, Rocking, Austrian, and Easy Chairs, Perambulator, Go-Cart, Sewing Machine, Copper, Linoleum, Carpets, Fender and Irons, Pictures, Kitchen utensils. Cutlery, Rugs, Vases, Wheel barrow, Tools, and lot of useful sundries.
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The Lynch St, Strahan property of Albert & Sarah Beach (Photo taken in July 2018)
There was a fatality at the Beaconsfield mine in late 1905 and Albert appeared as a witness in the case of the Hobbs family versus the Tasmanian Gold Mining Co. on 7th November 1905.
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Around this time and after some 13 years in Tasmania, the decision was taken for the family to move back to Victoria the former home of his wife Sarah. The family (including 6 children) were noted as passengers on the ship Loongana departing Launceston for Melbourne on 29th December 1905.
Albert died of Tuberculosis on 27 Sept 1913 at the age of 47 yrs. The inquest confirms he died at a Royal Park (Carlton, Melbourne) hospital. The Notice of Probate issued some weeks later refers to his wife Sarah Beach and her place of residence being Brewer Rd, Bentleigh (Melbourne, Vic).
There was a Memoriam notice posted by his wife Sarah 5 years after his death.
The Death Certificate for his wife Sarah Ann Beach (nee Watkins) included the following details:Year 1960 Age 90Place of Death East Bentleigh, Melbourne, VicFather's name WATKINS EdwardMother's name Elizabeth (Wood)Place of birth SOUTH YARRASarah Beach was noted as Living in Brewer Rd, Bentleigh, Vic in 1906.
Descendants of Albert & Sarah Beach continue to reside in the Bentleigh area today. Bruce Beach and his sister Ann Cuncliffe who are the great grand-children of Albert and Sarah have provided photographs of their grand-father Harry Edward Watkins Beach who was born in Zeehan in 1895. They have also confirmed that Albert (d.1913), Sarah (d.1960) and their son Albert Charles (d.1917) are all buried in the same unmarked plot at the Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery in Melbourne.
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Harry Edward Watkins Beach was also a builder and the heritage listed current day property at 118 Jasper Rd, Bentleigh stands as testament to his skills.
